Abstract: | There are six eddy covariance towers that make continuous measurements of regional hydrology and carbon balance in the region. This long-term eddy covariance tower network includes 13 years of data in a freshwater marl prairie (TS/Ph-1; US-Esm) and a freshwater marsh (SRS-2; US-Elm), 5 years of data from a mangrove scrub (TS/Ph-7; TBD) and 17 years of data from a tall mangrove forest (SRS-6; US-Skr). There is also an aquatic Tower in Florida Bay (Bob Allen; TBD) and a tower at the ecotone of marl prairie and mangrove scrub (SE1; US-EvM). Everglades ecosystems occur in predictable zonal patterns, and current Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE-LTER) sites are arranged to capture the variation in hydrology, community composition, and productivity. The hydrology and disturbance regime in the Everglades region developed a rich diversity of communities that have variable capacities to capture and sequester carbon. At each site, open-path infrared gas analyzers (IRGA, LI-7500 and Li-7700, Li-COR Inc., Lincoln, NE) are used to measure CO2 (mg mol-1), water vapor molar density (mg mol-1), and CH4. A paired sonic anemometer (CSAT3, Campbell Scientific Inc., Logan, UT) is employed to measure sonic temperature (Ts; K) and 3-dimensional wind speed (u, v and w, respectively; m s-1). Additional meteorological data is measured at the site to monitor conditions. |